Free Program 12 by Nicole Sobon Page A

can,” I replied. “But why would I want to?”
    “Because if he finds out that your Program has been altered, he will deactivate you.” Jessica backed away, and for a brief second, I could have sworn that I’d seen a tear escaping her eye. “And then what will have been the point, Twelve?”
    The weight of my body, which was compiled of computer parts, almost caused me to  crash into the ground as I tried to stand up. Jessica extended her hand out to me. “Please?” She pleaded. “I’m only here to help you.”
    I allowed her to take a hold of my hand as she led me out of the room. The hallway was bright and quiet now that most of my fellow Programs had entered standby mode. “Where are we going?” I asked, careful to mind my tone.
    “To the Pod room,” she replied matter-of-factly. “Don’t worry, Twelve. Everything is going to be just fine.”
    I could only hope. “Thank you.”
    I could feel the eyes of the other White Coats locked on me. A walking freak show. A disgrace to mankind. A person trapped inside of a machine. I could understand their disgust because, like them, I hated what I’d become.
    I wanted to unleash my inner rage, to fight back against what they’d done to me. But I needed to remind myself that fighting back wasn’t going to help me escape.
    We continued down the hallway until we stopped in front of the Pod room. Jessica pressed the small, red button on the wall. “Program identification,” a computerized voice asked over the outside speaker.
    “Twelve,” Jessica answered. She loosened her grasp on my wrist as the large, glass panel slid open, giving us permission to enter. “Come now, Twelve.”
    A small, white scanner sat just inside of the doorway. Jessica scanned her security badge and then waited for me to follow behind her. I held out my right wrist so that the scanner could read my bar code.
    “Proceed,” a voice crackled over the intercom.
    “Come on .” Jessica grabbed a hold of my wrist and escorted me further inside of the room.
    “No.” I whispered, making sure that only Jessica could hear me.
    Jessica smiled hesitantly. “What do you mean, Program?”
    Just as I was about to attempt an escape , the door to the Pod room opened; i n walked Charles McVeigh, flanked by Douglas Todd, his ever loyal assistant. “Program,” he nodded. “Jessica, why don’t you prep her for standby mode? Then, once you’re finished, we can chat for a bit.”
    I watched as Jessica’s eyes grew wide with what seemed to be fear. “Of course,” she forced a smile. “I’ll get right on that, sir. Program, if you’ll just follow me this way.” She gripped my wrist forcefully, indicating that now was not the time to fight.
    Not now. But soon.
    We walked past the Security Tube on the way to my Pod. I caught a glimpse of the boy behind the glass. His bright blue eyes were focused on me. I’d seen him before. A few times, actually. But never like this. I’d walked past his tube many times, but not once did I see who he was. He wasn’t like them. There was still a shimmer of life inside of his eyes. A small, but present sign of hope.
    “Twelve!” Jessica snapped. “Into your Pod. Now!”
    I glanced back at the tube before turning my head to see McVeigh staring at me questioningly. I pressed my hands against the sides of the Pod, waiting for the system to identify my Program. The glass doors parted upon confirming who – or what – I was. I eased myself inside of the Pod, careful to keep my hands at my sides as I did so .
    I turned around so that I was facing Jessica as I laid back. My hard-drive clicked into place as the doors sealed shut.
    “Eight hours,” she smiled. “It’s only eight hours, Twelve.”
    Eight hours of pure agony.              
    I was used to this. I ’d done it so many times before. I t should have been second nature to me. But it wasn’t. I could feel it now. I could feel the pain of the electricity rushing through my body.  And it